Nortel Networks Passport ARN Routers - Manual (Page 57)

114200-E Rev 00 2-1
Chapter 2
Starting the ARN
This chapter describes how to start the Passport ARN router, as follows:
Understanding the Startup Process
To operate, the ARN requires two files: a software image and a configuration file.
Each time you start the ARN, it completes a process to load these files.
• The software image contains a group of executable files that support the
protocols that the network requires. The ARN uses the software image called
arn.exe. The process of obtaining and using this image is called booting.
• To bridge and route traffic, the ARN also needs a configuration file that is
tailored to the network. A configuration file is a binary system file that
contains hardware and software configuration data. The default configuration
file is named config.
Nortel Networks ships the executable and default configuration files on a
PCMCIA flash card, but the ARN can also obtain them over the network. Getting
a file over the network is called network booting, or netbooting. Getting a file
from the router file system, stored in flash memory, is local booting.
Topic Go to
Understanding the startup process 2-1
Starting the ARN for the first time 2-4
Using EZ-Install 2-5
Using Netboot, Directed Netboot, or Local Boot 2-6
Where to go next 2-15